Carbondale Reporter

State Rep. Paul Jacobs announced via virtual meeting his committee assignments for the 102nd Illinois General Assembly.

Jacobs, who is a first-term state representative, an optometrist and former vineyard owner, spoke excitedly about his committee assignments, explaining that most of them were up his alley. He said, “I believe my committee assignments fit my district, my personality, my background and variety of experiences in different industries very well.”

He said how proud he is to represent the 115th district.

The details of Jacobs’ assignments are as follows: the Illinois House Tourism Committee, Health Care Access and Availability, Health Care Licenses, Higher Education and Higher Education Appropriations.

Jacobs spoke of his health care practice and he said that his 40 years of experience as an optometrist makes him the best candidate to handle health care committee assignments. He said that he’s aware of the struggles that Southern Illinois residents go through with regard to gaining access to health care and he reassures his constituents that he is ready to fix those problems.

Jacobs also spoke highly of SIU Carbondale, a university in Southern Illinois, and said that his appointment to the House Committee on Higher Education puts him in a position where he can help students in his area get the most out of that world-class university.

Finally, Jacobs expressed his excitement at being able to promote the wine and grape industry of Southern Illinois because of his appointment to the House Tourism Committee. He said that promoting parks, lakes, trails and other recreational activities will be high on his priority list.